Udviklingsminister Ulla Tørnæs indviede på førstedagen af sit besøg i Vietnam den 16. maj en dansk-vietnamesisk fabrik i Ho Chi Minh City.
The Danish Minister for Development Cooperation, ms. Ulla Tørnæs arrived in Vietnam Monday and joined the opening festivities of a new Danish-Vietnamese production plant in Ho Chi Minh City, built by the successful VIEDAM joint-venture, according to press material fra the Danish Embassy in Hanoi.
The two partners in the joint-venture, An Lap Co and WBL A/S from Skive in Denmark, are producing moulds (støbeforme) for the booming plastics industry in Vietnam. The Danish technology and know-how has been transferred from the Danish company with support from Danidas Private Sector Programme.
– The partnership that we are celebrating today is a clear sign that it is possible, even for two small or medium-sized companies to overcome the barriers and do business together in the most committing way – in the form of a joint venture owned equally by the two partners. We can thank the Vietnamese authorities for applying open policies to allow this, said the Danish Minister at the inauguration.
– But most importantly, today is a celebration of Anlap and WBL, the two companies that have overcome the many barriers to make this joint venture company – Viedam – into such a success story as it is. You are working together over 6 time zones, different climates, very different languages, many cultural differences and under very different sets of regulations and business practices, she added.
– Yet, you have told me that you can make money. And I have seen with my own eyes this new factory building with modern equipment installed which symbolises your belief in a joint future. I have also sensed the good feeling of partnership between the two of you. This is encouraging to see, Ulla Tørnæs noted.
The Vice-chairman of the Peoples Committee of HCMC, Nguyen Thien Nhan, congratulated the partners and expressed his strong support for the project:
– The lack of locally produced moulds has been a big problem for the industry in HCMC. Until you formed this partnership we have had to purchase all moulds from overseas. Now we can do ourselves, and this will save a lot of money and time for the businesses here, said the vice-chairman.
– I hope that this important development will inspire many more Danish companies to come to Vietnam, said Nguyen Thien Nhan.
After the inauguration the Danish Minister paid a visit to another Danish-Vietnamese success story – the new Van Duc Food Factory, built by the Vinh Hoan fisheries company.
With the assistance of the Danish Partner Gamba, Vinh Hoan is producing high quality sea food and fresh water fish for Europe, Asia and Australia.
Last year the company had a record turn over (omsætning) of 32 million US dollar, and the export of the company is expected to rise dramatically again this year.
